Review: The ElevationHub Adds an Extra USB Port and SD Card Slot to Your Mac's Power Adapter

[G5isAlive]

It’s only practical for 10% of users, how dare they waste resources on developing this. If you are part of this 10% minority, tough luck, we have majoritarian rule here. [/sarcasm]

Oh, and for any use with a permanently attached drive (eg, Time Machine), the floor is often enough not a problem (you might have ’bought’ a SD card slot you don’t use but strangely most people seem to prefer to rather have more ports than less even if they don’t need all of them).

not many people want to leave a hard drive on the floor, to the OP's point. You like to use that phrase how dare you don't you? and more ports? you mean one more port. Any real hub typically has five or more. Not two. how dare you! lol

 

[koruki]

you know what would be really innovative if Apple just has an SD card slot and 1 USB1 port on their laptops! *mind blown* /S

 

[SBlue1]

I think this is very useful if you want to use it as a storage option for your 128 or 256 GB MacBook Air or Pro. I have a 128 GB Micro SD Card as an extra drive in my 2012 MacBook Pro. I ordered the new MacBook Air and with this I can just continue to use it. I can also add my Samsung external SSD and use it as a third drive. Great idea since I'll just plug it in once and won't change the drives all the time.

 

[sdf]

Generally, I think products like this might not be useful to me but are probably useful to someone. But the idea of strapping a hub to a power brick… both far away from me and my laptop and uncomfortably physically close to 120V… really doesn't appeal to me very much and strikes me as not a great idea in general.

 

[Localcelebrity]

Generally, I think products like this might not be useful to me but are probably useful to someone. But the idea of strapping a hub to a power brick… both far away from me and my laptop and uncomfortably physically close to 120V… really doesn't appeal to me very much and strikes me as not a great idea in general.

It feels like a product that was maybe designed for travelers and is launching at a very unfortunate time? I know that's why I bought my PlugBug back in the day, but that didn't have any IO uses in mind, just charging.

I'm sincerely curious what research lead to this idea/design or if it was just something created at the whims of a CEO.

 

[G5isAlive]

I think this is very useful if you want to use it as a storage option for your 128 or 256 GB MacBook Air or Pro. I have a 128 GB Micro SD Card as an extra drive in my 2012 MacBook Pro. I ordered the new MacBook Air and with this I can just continue to use it. I can also add my Samsung external SSD and use it as a third drive. Great idea since I'll just plug it in once and won't change the drives all the time.

Yep. But if those are your requirements you would be better served for the same price a hub like this one... because it also has 100 watt passthrough, HDMI, Ethernet, USB-C and two USB A ports. As someone pointed out, always nice to have more ports than fewer.

Anker 555 USB-C Hub (8-in-1), with 100W Power Delivery, 4K 60Hz HDMI Port, 10Gbps USB C and 2 A Data Ports, Ethernet microSD SD Card Reader, for MacBook Pro More

Model Number: A8383 Anker 555 USB-C Hub (8-in-1) The High-Speed Data Transfer, Pass-Through Charging, and 4K Media Hub All The Ports You Need Turn your device’s USB-C port into 8 ports, allowing you to transfer data in seconds, stream media in unrivaled clarity, and provide high-speed pass-throug...

www.amazon.com

or, if for half the price you can still have MORE ports

Hiearcool 7-in-1 USB C Hub with 4K HDMI, 100W PD, USB 3.0 and SD/TF Card Reader

A company called Hiearcool makes extension ports for laptops. We are dedicated to creating more and better USB C Hubs with the idea of utility and quality. Hiearcool has created more effective goods in response to various client requests after the update and iteration of electronic devices. There...

www.amazon.com

Hubs are useful. We agree. This particular hub does very little, is awkward at best to use, and has severe limitations on power use that restricts it to a narrow subset of computers. Other than that, it's great!

 

[G5isAlive]

It feels like a product that was maybe designed for travelers and is launching at a very unfortunate time? I know that's why I bought my PlugBug back in the day, but that didn't have any IO uses in mind, just charging.

I'm sincerely curious what research lead to this idea/design or if it was just something created at the whims of a CEO.

I think it started out sounding like a good idea after a beer or two. I travel a lot for work (or did, plan to again), and I am always on the lookout for things to make my travel pack lighter and better organized. I can see thinking this might work, but the devil is always in the details. The actual implementation (a strap on?!) is... ungainly. The utility is limited. I think it's one of those projects that took on a life of its own and people threw up a prayer hoping that being different, was good enough. For me, it's not. But it sounds like it has at least one or two fans. I wonder if they travel.

 

[justperry]

No-one even mentioned this, you have to be careful to pull the cord when you don't need the powerbrick anymore, any media will be unsafely ejected if you didn't eject it manually.

 

[justperry]

All of the below hubs seem to be much better for less or a bit more money.

 

[SBlue1]

Yep. But if those are your requirements you would be better served for the same price a hub like this one... because it also has 100 watt passthrough, HDMI, Ethernet, USB-C and two USB A ports. As someone pointed out, always nice to have more ports than fewer.

Anker 555 USB-C Hub (8-in-1), with 100W Power Delivery, 4K 60Hz HDMI Port, 10Gbps USB C and 2 A Data Ports, Ethernet microSD SD Card Reader, for MacBook Pro More

Model Number: A8383 Anker 555 USB-C Hub (8-in-1) The High-Speed Data Transfer, Pass-Through Charging, and 4K Media Hub All The Ports You Need Turn your device’s USB-C port into 8 ports, allowing you to transfer data in seconds, stream media in unrivaled clarity, and provide high-speed pass-throug...

www.amazon.com

or, if for half the price you can still have MORE ports

Hiearcool 7-in-1 USB C Hub with 4K HDMI, 100W PD, USB 3.0 and SD/TF Card Reader

A company called Hiearcool makes extension ports for laptops. We are dedicated to creating more and better USB C Hubs with the idea of utility and quality. Hiearcool has created more effective goods in response to various client requests after the update and iteration of electronic devices. There...

www.amazon.com

Hubs are useful. We agree. This particular hub does very little, is awkward at best to use, and has severe limitations on power use that restricts it to a narrow subset of computers. Other than that, it's great!

Yeah they are better when you use them on a desk but those hubs and the attached SSD are dangling on the side when I am on my couch.

 

[carrrrrlos]

There’s a joke in here somewhere about dongles and strap ons.

 

[ryanflanders256]

The product photos look clunky... but then again, it would keep the clutter off your desk.

Interesting.

 

[G5isAlive]

Yeah they are better when you use them on a desk but those hubs and the attached SSD are dangling on the side when I am on my couch.

So now we have a use case when you are on the couch, but close to your power brick and are okay with your hard drive on the floor? Mmmm. Or. Again you could put a real hub on the floor. They have ones that have both power in and pass through as USB-C cables. For the same price. Or Less. Just saying.

 

[Analog Kid]

I’ve been waiting for someone to finally realize all of these docks were on the wrong side of the power cable and put the SD card reader closer to the floor and behind the sofa where it belongs!

 

[hugodrax]

Price is to high.

 

[manu chao]

And let's talk about those hub features... you lose them if its not plugged in. all two of them. Not a very useful hub.

Most power supplies are in a fixed location, namely on or under a desk, where laptops spend the vast majority of their time. If you do take your laptop on public transport, to Starbucks or school, you probably leave any external drives at home (or the office). It's bit like complaining that a power supply only works while it is plugged in. Normal hubs also don't work while I am using my laptop on a couch (because I wouldn't want to have anything dangling from my laptop in that situation).

In case some still haven't got the memo: This 'hub' is predominantly for those who have something they need to have plugged in most the time but not something they would want to move around or travel with. Something that you might even prefer to be out-of-sight. There is a significant overlap between stuff you only want to use while the computer is used at its normal deskspace and stuff that doesn't suffer from and might even benefit from being out-of-sight (and only-used-at-its-desk and used-while-a-power-outlet-is-available also overlap a lot).

 

[manu chao]

I’ve been waiting for someone to finally realize all of these docks were on the wrong side of the power cable ...

... and that we don't need more stuff dangling of our laptops (and/or take up space on our desks).

 

[Analog Kid]

... and that we don't need more stuff dangling of our laptops (and/or take up space on our desks).

I shouldn't criticize something just because I don't see a use for it, I suppose, but I try to structure my workspace so removable media and so forth is easily accessible at my desk and fixed items (drive arrays, WiFi hotspots, etc) is off my desk and out of the way. If this were a WiFi hotspot or even an ethernet port, it would seem sensible. Maybe the USB-A port to attach a TimeMachine drive or something rather than the thumb drive shown is sensible, but an SD Card reader seems poorly positioned at the wall outlet.

Again, maybe that's useful for someone, so I'll dial back my criticism but would love to hear what use case that's meant to support.

 

[G5isAlive]

Most power supplies are in a fixed location, namely on or under a desk, where laptops spend the vast majority of their time. If you do take your laptop on public transport, to Starbucks or school, you probably leave any external drives at home (or the office). It's bit like complaining that a power supply only works while it is plugged in. Normal hubs also don't work while I am using my laptop on a couch (because I wouldn't want to have anything dangling from my laptop in that situation).

In case some still haven't got the memo: This 'hub' is predominantly for those who have something they need to have plugged in most the time but not something they would want to move around or travel with. Something that you might even prefer to be out-of-sight. There is a significant overlap between stuff you only want to use while the computer is used at its normal deskspace and stuff that doesn't suffer from and might even benefit from being out-of-sight (and only-used-at-its-desk and used-while-a-power-outlet-is-available also overlap a lot).

Again with the couch? Two accounts perhaps? Because that's just weird. Okay dokey.

Let me see if I got your use case straight. You are longing on a couch, because if you were sitting at a small table a small fast SSD would not be an issue. Yet, you are still plugged into power, presumably with a really long USB-C cord, cause yeah, that's why people buy laptops so that they are always wired in somewhere. And you only want one USB-A port to use with a slow hard drive you don't mind sitting on the floor. Because as you say, all this is out of-sight, so the Card slot is of marginal use, too inconvenient to be used for transferring pictures, which it is designed for, too slow and to small capacity for fixed storage. Oh and for just this, you want to pay MORE than you would a fully functional hub that would serve the exact same use case? Except not with that stylish strapped in look.

Oh. And its only for those with a particular computer, not all Mac laptops. Yep, you convinced me. This is not a niche product. Wide appeal. Got any more of those magic memos?

 

[SBlue1]

So now we have a use case when you are on the couch, but close to your power brick and are okay with your hard drive on the floor? Mmmm. Or. Again you could put a real hub on the floor. They have ones that have both power in and pass through as USB-C cables. For the same price. Or Less. Just saying.

Well the power outlet is next to the couch and there is a an extension cable sitting on a small table next to me with the router and external SSDs underneath, so in my use case this would be perfect. Nothing is on the ground or in any other danger, and the SSDs are already there. At the moment they are attached to the router via USB 2.0 so having the SSDs connected to the power brick instead and by USB 3.0 would a major improvement already.

I have considered the pass thru hubs that firmly attach to side of the MacBook Air but I fear its not a safe solution. I don't want to break the hub.

Now you mentioned I could use a regular hub but not attach it to the Mac but to the power brick instead, just like this product but better and cheaper? I thought this was the first of its kind. Do you know any hubs that can be used in this way?

 

[jacjustjac]

We really need to talk about how if you use your own cable, it’s going to work at USB 2.0 speeds. I prefer USB 2.0 cables for power because they work with higher wattages, are generally longer, cheaper and sometimes even more flexible. You’re going to wear through a lot of them, make them simple and cheap.

 

[ucfgrad93]

This is so ugly. And quite unpractical: the power brick usually lays somewhere on the floor or in a dusty corner. Not a place where I can easily plug in or out SD cards memory sticks...

Agreed. Not really seeing a need for this. I'd rather have something that attached to the laptop itself, not the charger. Plus it looks bulky and cumbersome.

 

[G5isAlive]

Well the power outlet is next to the couch and there is a an extension cable sitting on a small table next to me with the router and external SSDs underneath, so in my use case this would be perfect. Nothing is on the ground or in any other danger, and the SSDs are already there. At the moment they are attached to the router via USB 2.0 so having the SSDs connected to the power brick instead and by USB 3.0 would a major improvement already.

I have considered the pass thru hubs that firmly attach to side of the MacBook Air but I fear its not a safe solution. I don't want to break the hub.

Now you mentioned I could use a regular hub but not attach it to the Mac but to the power brick instead, just like this product but better and cheaper? I thought this was the first of its kind. Do you know any hubs that can be used in this way?

The ONLY thing novel about this particular hub is it literally straps on to your apple provided power brick (but no other power bricks, an not the the MacBook Air brick) Other than that, its just a really cheap hub that can only pass enough power through for a MacBook Pro 13 inch, but not a MacBook Air, and nothing larger, and only has two ports.

But I get if you are lounging on a couch you don't want the hub that near you and most USB-C hubs connect to the Mac via a short (or no!) cord. This small compact Hub (yes I own one and travel with it) lets me pick the USB-C cord that goes BOTH from the power brick to it (any length), and USB-C cord (any length) from it to my Mac, so I can place it ANYWHERE and it is a good price. 7 ports versus 2, 100 watt pass through versus 60. Seems like a no brainer to me.

USB C Hub, uni USB Type C 8 in 1 Hub with Detachable Connector, 4K HDMI, 1Gbps Ethernet, SD/MicroSD Card Reader, Up to 100W, Compatible for MacBook Pro 2023, iPad Pro 2023, Galaxy S24/S23 & More

USB C Hub, uni USB Type C 8 in 1 Hub with Detachable Connector, 4K HDMI, 1Gbps Ethernet, SD/MicroSD Card Reader, Up to 100W, Compatible for MacBook Pro 2023, iPad Pro 2023, Galaxy S24/S23 & More

www.amazon.com

My original comment said this was a niche product. I stand by that.

Generally, I think products like this might not be useful to me but are probably useful to someone. But the idea of strapping a hub to a power brick… both far away from me and my laptop and uncomfortably physically close to 120V… really doesn't appeal to me very much and strikes me as not a great idea in general.

What He said.

 

[manu chao]

Let me see if I got your use case straight. You are longing on a couch, because if you were sitting at a small table a small fast SSD would not be an issue. Yet, you are still plugged into power, presumably with a really long USB-C cord, cause yeah, that's why people buy laptops so that they are always wired in somewhere.

This has been a refrain for decades: Most laptops spent most of their time plugged in on a desk. Why that is news to you, I don’t know. The vast majority of laptop owners (and laptops are what most people own) simply prefers to work at a desk.

 

[manu chao]

My original comment said this was a niche product. I stand by that.

But somehow that sounded as if you questioned whether that niche was even large enough to make this product viable or so small that even talking about it would be a waste of time.